{"id":235403,"date":"2025-05-20T13:40:37","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mpsschoolsites.wpenginepowered.com\/fernwood\/?p=235403"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:40:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T13:40:37","slug":"fernwood-family-newsletter-36-5-20-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/2025\/05\/20\/fernwood-family-newsletter-36-5-20-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Fernwood Family Newsletter #36, 5\/20\/25"},"content":{"rendered":"
FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #36, 5\/20\/25<\/span><\/div>\n
_________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Volunteer Gifts in the Main Office<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Visitors to our Building<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Transition Information for Students Moving to a New Level Next Year<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Fernwood Experience Day, May 22nd<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Camp Closed on May 26th and June 6th<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Sneak Peek: Major Auction Items Now Available to View for Fernwood Flights!<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Volunteers Needed for Field Day on June 5th<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
MPS Focus Group Participants Wanted<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Beyond Stranger Danger: Online Safety for Your Child<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Fernwood Compost Fundraiser<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Audit by MGT of MPS- Parent Survey<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Attendance Recapture for Illness<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Information on MPS Lead Testing Clinic for MPS Families<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
___________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
~Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, 6:30pm, \u00a0Fernwood Fund Meeting,\u00a0Fernwood Library and virtual (email\u00a0brett.mytys@gmail.com<\/a><\/u>\u00a0for link)<\/div>\n
~Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, Midday Pickup and End of Day Pickup, Plant Sale, Fernwood Greenhouse<\/div>\n
~Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, Experience Day, Fernwood Montessori<\/div>\n
~Thursday, May 29th, 2025, 5:30pm SEC Meeting, Virtual\u00a0https:\/\/meet.google.com\/tir-huzv-ikc<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
~Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, 6:00pm\u00a0 PTO Meeting,\u00a0 Humboldt Park Beer Garden<\/div>\n
~Thursday, June 5th, 2025, Field Day, Fernwood Montessori<\/div>\n
~Sunday, June 8th, 2025, 11am-3pm, Fernwood Flights, Sugar Maple Bar<\/div>\n
~Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, 6:30pm, \u00a0Fernwood Fund Meeting,\u00a0Fernwood Library and virtual (email\u00a0brett.mytys@gmail.com<\/a><\/u>\u00a0for link)<\/div>\n
~Thursday, June 12th, 2025, 5:30pm, 8th Grade Completion Ceremony, Bayview High School Auditorium<\/div>\n
~Thursday, June 12th, 2025, 6:30pm, Music Parents Meeting, Virtual\u00a0https:\/\/meet.google.com\/fpf-rvca-uuk<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
~Friday, June 13th, 2025, Last Day of School,\u00a0Fernwood Montessori<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Volunteer Gifts in the Main Office<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Without volunteers, Fernwood can\u2019t make it happen (what we do best)!\u00a0 We could not Soup Night!\u00a0 We could not field trip!\u00a0 We could not sound book!\u00a0 We could not Halloween Dance!\u00a0 We could not fundraise!\u00a0 We could not soccer!\u00a0 We could not library!\u00a0 We could not\u00a0Fernwood,\u00a0<\/i>Sam I am!\u00a0 If you volunteered this year, in any way, please come by the Main Office starting today through 5\/27 and pick up a small volunteer appreciation gift!\u00a0 We appreciate y\u2019all so much and hope you know it\u2026.and if you don\u2019t, come by the Main Office for a little reminder!<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n
Greenhouse Plant Sale-May 22nd-This Thursday!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Mr. Matt \u201cRetired but Not\u201d Ray will be hosting a plant sale on May 22nd at mid day pick up (10am -11am) and at after school pick up (2:30pm-3:30pm).\u00a0 Flowers, herbs, and vegetables will be available in the Greenhouse for purchase.\u00a0 Cash or checks only (made out to Fernwood Montessori).\u00a0 Proceeds go back to Fernwood Montessori and also keep Mr. Ray off the streets for an entire school day!\u00a0 Hope to see you there!<\/div>\n
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Visitors to our Building<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
We welcome visitors to our building.\u00a0 All adults\u00a0must<\/i>\u00a0report immediately to the main office to sign in and get a visitor badge before going to any classroom or other part of the building.\u00a0 We ask that families make appointments with any school personnel ahead of time, so that instructional time or other school functionings are not impacted.<\/div>\n
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Thanks for your attention to our visitor policy and for helping to keep our kids and staff safe.<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Transition Information for Students Moving to a New Level Next Year<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fernwood put together some helpful videos for families to understand what the transition looks like from the previous to the next level.\u00a0 These videos will be helpful for families of current K5, 3rd, and 6th\u00a0grade students:<\/div>\n
Primary to Lower Elementary:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=CsKy3LFFunw<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Lower Elementary to Upper Elementary:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bUui5YVG6D0<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
Upper Elementary to Secondary:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cnpNOxfOKsM<\/a><\/u>\u00a0(please note that all of our secondary classrooms are combinations of 7th\u00a0and 8th\u00a0graders with the exception of math)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fernwood students in grades K5, 3rd\u00a0and 6th\u00a0grade will have the opportunity to participate on May 22 in our experience day.\u00a0 Families can expect to receive supply lists and class placements\/homerooms (for 7th\u00a0and 8th\u00a0grade) on the last day of school sent home with report cards.\u00a0 At the end of August when teachers return, families should expect to hear from the new teachers about procedures, communication, expectations, etc.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you have any questions about your child moving to the next level and what this may look like, please contact their current teacher.<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fernwood Experience Day, May 22nd<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
On May 22, 2025 Fernwood Montessori will be holding an Experience Day.\u00a0 We kindly ask that all students bring a cold lunch to school this day, since there will be many moving pieces during lunch (we will of course have hot lunches available if students need to order one, as always).<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
During Experience Day, students in K5, 3rd grade and 6th grade will have the opportunity to visit a classroom for a few hours (in the morning) at the next level to gain understanding about what their next classroom may look like and feel like,and will be welcomed by a student ambassador well established within that classroom community.\u00a0 Please note that we have paired teachers up for Experience Day, and the classrooms that students will visit have no bearing on their classroom placement for the fall.\u00a0 The purpose of this day is to help students feel comfortable and safe in their transition to the next level, while also building leadership skills in students who will be remaining in their classrooms next year.\u00a0 If a student is out sick that day, teachers will do their best to coordinate a make up day.<\/div>\n
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Students in K4 will be invited by their primary teacher to attend school for a full-day.\u00a0 Teachers will communicate with parents about a schedule.<\/div>\n
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Please reach out to your child\u2019s teacher with any questions.<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
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Camp Closed on May 26th and June 6th<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fernwood Camp will be closed on May 26th and June 6th.\u00a0 Thanks!<\/div>\n
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
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Sneak Peek: Major Auction Items Now Available to View for Fernwood Flights!<\/div>\n
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We\u2019re excited to share a\u00a0preview of the major auction items<\/a><\/u>\u00a0that will be featured at this year\u2019s Fernwood Fundraiser on Sunday, June 8th from 11am\u20133pm at The Sugar Maple! The document is just a sampling of the incredible experiences, getaways, and goods that will be up for bid. We are incredibly grateful for all of the generous donors\u2014especially our amazing Fernwood families who own businesses and those who\u2019ve reached out to their networks to help make this auction a success. Please feel free to share this preview with grandparents and extended family who may want to take part in the fun and support our school.<\/div>\n
While the auction website will go live closer to the event, you can\u00a0buy your tickets now<\/a><\/u>\u2014and this year, those who go above and beyond by purchasing Key Supporter Tickets will receive a\u00a0limited-edition glass<\/a><\/u>\u00a0designed by Fernwood parents Eric Krueger and Jason Gierl of Static Eye Design Co.<\/div>\n
All funds raised will directly support enriching experiences for Fernwood students, including field trips to the Urban Ecology Center, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, and UW\u2013Madison for a campus tour, as well as programs like the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra\u2019s ACE Program and Greenhouse and Sustainability Education. Additional initiatives are also being explored for next school year\u2014including the introduction of Spanish language classes\u2014and your support helps make these exciting opportunities possible.<\/div>\n
Thank you for being part of what makes Fernwood such a vibrant, supportive community!<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Volunteers Needed for Field Day on June 5th<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Field Day is happening on June 5th. There are two sessions that need volunteers (8-10:45am and 1-2pm).\u00a0 Please sign up below to help out for one (or both) of the sessions. Please email Cari at\u00a0cariannbell@gmail.com<\/a><\/u>\u00a0if you have questions about volunteering.<\/div>\n
Field Day Volunteer Sign Up<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MPS Focus Group Participants Wanted<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Milwaukee Public Schools wants to hear from YOU! Our<\/div>\n
district is engaging in an external review of our academic<\/div>\n
programs, and your input as parents and caregivers is<\/div>\n
essential to this process.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MPS Family Survey Focus Group.pdf<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Beyond Stranger Danger: Online Safety for Your Child\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Free class available to parents!\u00a0 Details below.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This bite-sized presentation will teach parents how to be proactive in protecting their youth as they join the virtual world, how to identify and navigate risky behavior around adult and radical political spaces, and how to speak with their children about being safe. Parents will also receive further resources on where to find additional information from trusted organizations.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Length:\u00a0One hour<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
When: Wednesday, May 28th\u00a0at noon and 7:00 (same class offered at different times)<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
RSVP\u00a0to Jessica Mirkes (jessica.mirkes@ppwi.org) or Rebekah Salonen (rebekah.salonen@ppwi.org) for the Zoom link.<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Fernwood Compost Fundraiser<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Did you know that Fernwood Montessori works with Compost Crusader to compost food from the cafeteria instead of sending it to a landfill? To help offset the cost of this service, we are hosting a fundraiser through Compost Crusader. For every 35 lb bag of compost sold, Fernwood will receive a $4 credit towards its pick up service. Compost orders must be placed\u00a0by May 27th. Pick up will be on\u00a0Thursday May 29th between 3 and 5:30pm\u00a0outside the Falling Heath doors.<\/div>\n
Ordering is easy! Place your order at:\u00a0https:\/\/accounts.compostcrusader.com\/shop\/Fernwood-Montessori-School\/<\/a><\/u>. If you have any questions about your order, contact education@compostcrusader.com. If you have questions about compost pick up, contact chelsea.malacara@gmail.com<\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Audit by MGT of MPS- Parent Survey<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
MPS Families:<\/i>\u00a0We want your feedback! We are currently engaging in an external Instructional Review of Milwaukee Public Schools, and we need your voice to help shape the future of the district. Parents and caregivers, take a few minutes to share your experiences through our family survey. Your feedback will help MPS improve instructional practices and better serve students. You can access the survey via\u00a0<\/i>this link<\/a><\/u><\/i>.<\/i><\/div>\n

\nAdditionally, we have family focus groups, including virtual and in-person options at locations across the city. Access details using the Blue QR code in the survey attached. Thank you!<\/i><\/div>\n
Familias de Milwaukee:\u00a0<\/i>\u00a1Queremos conocer su opini\u00f3n! Estamos llevando a cabo una revisi\u00f3n externa de la instrucci\u00f3n en las Escuelas P\u00fablicas de Milwaukee, y necesitamos su voz para mejorar los resultados de nuestros estudiantes. Padres y cuidadores: por favor, t\u00f3mense unos minutos para compartir sus experiencias a trav\u00e9s de nuestra encuesta para familias. Sus comentarios ayudar\u00e1n a MPS a mejorar las pr\u00e1cticas de ense\u00f1anza y a servir mejor a los estudiantes.<\/i><\/div>\n
Puede acceder a la encuesta mediante\u00a0<\/i>este enlace<\/a><\/u><\/i>.<\/i><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n
Adem\u00e1s, ofrecemos grupos focales familiares, tanto virtuales como presenciales, en diferentes ubicaciones de la ciudad. Acceda a la informaci\u00f3n usando el c\u00f3digo QR azul de la encuesta adjunta. \u00a1Gracias!<\/i><\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Attendance Recapture for Illness<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Parents will complete this form to communicate with the Fernwood office evidence of student work completed at home so that attendance may be recaptured (UADI).\u00a0 This is only available if a child is home ill (appointments, funerals or travel do not count).\u00a0 You will get an attendance call as this will be checked later in the day, so please don’t worry.\u00a0 If you fill this out, we will get the attendance recaptured.\u00a0 Work options can be found in the description on the google form.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSeBorB7gkqUIvWiMxYqOohbmzo3SiNHwaWgsmhQi_otjSGp-w\/viewform?usp=sharing<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Information on MPS Lead Testing Clinic for MPS Families<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/city.milwaukee.gov\/Health\/Services-and-Programs\/HomeEnvironmentalHealth\/Ongoing-Lead-Hazard-Investigations-With-MPS<\/a><\/u><\/div>\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
OUR SCHOOL IS COOL!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
There\u2019s always something COOL going on at Fernwood!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
After school camp and wrap around are COOL and essential parts of making our school work!\u00a0 I would like to introduce Ms. Ofelia, our Assistant Camp Director! \u00a0 Here are some fun facts about Ms. Ofie:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
She likes cartoons.\u00a0 They keep her young!\u00a0 Her favorite is Scooby Doo!<\/div>\n
She likes puzzles.<\/div>\n
She attended MPS as a young person.\u00a0 She went to Cass Street School, Riverside and South Division HS.<\/div>\n
All her kids attended MPS (she\u2019s one of us!) and her granddaughter, Ari, is at Fernwood right now!<\/div>\n
She has been at Fernwood since 2017.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
When you get a chance, introduce yourself to Ms. Ofie!\u00a0 Camp could not happen without her!\u00a0 COOL!<\/div>\n
*********************************************************************************<\/div>\n
We have COOL teachers that partnered up with equally COOL people.\u00a0 Ms. Jessica\u2019s dude, Paul, organized the following event and invited all of Fernwood to participate.\u00a0 See below for details.<\/div>\n
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Our adolescent program had a COOL project happen on Monday the 19th.\u00a0 Flying eggs!\u00a0 Adolescent students had to make an egg contraption that would protect their eggs from breaking when dropped from greater and greater heights.\u00a0 If the eggs survived this drop, they moved to the balcony above the Falling Heath doors.<\/div>\n
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Please take a look at the photo essay below portraying one man\u2019s (Mr. J\u2019s) theatrical journey through this science project (metaphorically his journey through time and space immortal).\u00a0 At first glance, these pictures seem the same.\u00a0 Upon closer inspection, you can see that they each show an unique emotional moment that just needed to be shared.\u00a0 These pictures can also be printed and turned into a flip book!\u00a0 This newsletter is a craft project!\u00a0 COOL!<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FERNWOOD FAMILY NEWSLETTER #36, 5\/20\/25 _________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Volunteer Gifts in the Main Office Visitors to our Building Transition Information for Students Moving to a New Level Next Year Fernwood Experience Day, May 22nd Camp Closed on May 26th and June 6th Sneak Peek: Major Auction Items Now Available to View […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-235403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/99"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/235403\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=235403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mps.school\/fernwood\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=235403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}